Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-17
REBEL FLAGS.
Strong Denunciations of the Presidents
otders-Many Protests Made by &. A.
Posts = The President Concludes to
Let the Flags Remain in the War
Department.
NEw YORK, June l6,


At reception given to Commander.in
Chief Fsirchild of the Grand Army of the
Republic last night in New York. BY Hamil-
ton post No. lsa, Gen. Fairchid. in denounc.
ing the action of President Cleveland in sane.
toning the return of the rebel battle flags 10
the southern States, said:
MAY God palsy the hand that wrote the
order' may God palsy the brain that con-
ceived it! and may God palsy the tongue
that dictated il"
Much excitement prevailed and indignation
at the order Of the war department WAS ex.
pressed on every hSnd.
Continuing, Gsn. FAirchild said:
How can the present loyal governors Of
the Southern States accept the emblems OF
treason after their professions of LOYALTY to
the Union? Must they not return them to
the secretary Of war and say that thev have
nothing to do with the flags as rebel organi.
cations are extinct?"
Resolutions were adopted protesting against
the action of the President in approving the
order for the restoration Of the flags and de-
clsring that no sentiment of generosity and
no expression of maenanimity on the part of
the Grand Army is involved in the sure nder
of the trophies TO the Southern States
This gathering of veterans was a represen-
Grand Army post of New York city and
vicinity.
DEs MONIES, Ia, June l6.
The following was sent last night by Cor
Lsrrabee of Iowa:
To the President of the United States, Wash.
ington, ID. c..
l send herewith a request, made upon me
as Governor of Iowa, by the commander of
the Grand Army of the Republic in this State
against the proposed return to the South OF
the war flags captured by the Union troops
during the rebellion. | add to this request
and protest of the surviving Union soldiers in
Iowa respectful but equally urgent protest
of the people of the State, and shall deem il
my duty to use all proper endesvors to pre-
vent any such return of the battle flags cap.
tured by Iowa troops.
CINCINNATI, June l6
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette TODAY
has page of interviews with ex Union sol
dlers of Ohio deprecating in strong language
the proposed return of Confederate flags
WAsHiSGroN, June l6.
The following letter was sent to the sec
retary of war by the President today in re-
gard to the disposition of the flags captured
by the Union forces during the late war:
| have today considered with more care
to me the action of your department di-
rec,ine letters TO be addressed to Governors
of all States offering return, if desired, to
the loyal States, Union flags captured
during the war of the rebellion by the Con.
federate forces and afterwards recov
cred by government troops, and to Confed.
crate States, flags captured by Union forces,
all of which for many years have been packed
in boxes in the cellar and attic of the war de.
partment. am of the opinion that the re-
turn of the flags in the manner thus contem-
plated is not authorized by the existing law r.,
is not justified as an executive act. | re.
quest, therefore, that no further steps be
taken in the matter except to examine the
inventory of these flags and adopt the proper
means for their preservation. ANY direction
as to their final disposition should originate
with Congress.
Yours truly
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.
The Post in an article on the subject saws :
"The proposition originated with Gen. Drum,
who has all these trophies under especial
care. The adjutspt general, while admitting
that the request for the return of the cap.
tured colors might not have come so grace
fully from the Southern States as from the
Northern States, gives the Southern States
the credit for having acted in the matter with
the most perfect sense of propriety and incest
appreciation of the delicacy of the subject
viewed from certain standpoints. No South
ern State, which took rebellous part in the
war, has ever presumed TO ask for the return
of single flag. In these circumstances, and
all things considered, the adjutant genera
thinks the President done graceful and
patriotic act.
The Critic says: The collection of flags in
the war department is under charge of
Adjutant General Drum. from time to time
several have been returned to Northern mil
itarv organizations. Recently, Gen. Drum
recommended all to be returned. Secretary
Endicoit suggested this at the cabinet meet.
ing and it was agreed to"